ALONE TOGETHER

US, 2022, 98 minutes, Colour.

Katie Holmes, Jim Sturgess, Derek Luke, Melissa Leo.

Directed by Katie Holmes.

Katie Holmes emerged in the 2000s as a film star. In the 2010s, while continuing to act, she began to direct films including All We Had. This film she is not only producer and director, she has written the screenplay and starred.

However, the important aspect of the film is its time and location, mid March to mid April 2020, the realisation around the world and in the United States that the pandemic was severe and would last a long time. Audiences watching this film will probably be making comparisons of where they were and what they were doing, the experience of lockdown and restrictions, at the beginning of 2020 and throughout that year and on.

However, the story is a basic romance. Katie Holmes is June, a journalist with further ambitions, tense in a relationship, coming to an Air B&B and finding it already occupied. Jim Sturgess is Charlie, with his own back story, also booked into the Air B&B. He is accommodating, allowing June to come in, but they begin to relate very well, sharing the B&B, talking, bike riding, romantic, sexual. And there is the isolation of lockdown keeping them together, even if alone.

Derek Luke portrays June’s boyfriend who turns up with the expected consequences – and then both June and Charlie leaving, but returning!

1. American romance? Middle-aged characters? In the context of the pandemic?
2. The work of Katie Holmes, writing, directing, acting?
3. The New York setting, New York State, the countryside, homes, takeaways? New York City, the streets, deserted because of lockdown? The musical score? Singing Blue Moon, the credits, the song for June’s grandfather?
4. The film was something of a time capsule, March April 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, the consequences, lockdown, businesses shut, masks, distance…? Audiences identifying with the times and what they were experiencing wherever they were?
5. June’s story, age, journalist, writing on restaurants, ambitions, from the midwest, to the city, her relationship with John, one year, the tensions? The booking of the Air B&B? Her desperation for the train, cancel, the lift, conversation with the driver, the house, locked?
6. Charlie, his story, relationship with his mother, the phone calls, the death of his father? Broken relationship, sense of betrayal from his girlfriend? The Air B&B?
7. The situation, June tired, Charlie, inviting her in? The initial tensions, the one room, shower, his sleeping on the couch?
8. The development of the situation, the bonding, talking together, telling their stories, more about family and relationship backgrounds? Drinking, card games, the bike ride? The sexual encounter, the consequences? The weeks passing, lockdown, takeaway food? Cooking?
9. John, the background, family death, arriving, puzzle, Jim’s reaction, Charlie leaving? The discussions, tension, sorting out the issues?
10. Charlie going back to the city, his talent for repairs, his mother?
11. June, going back to the city, offices shut?
12. Her returning to the house, Charlie present, the ending – and the future?